‘OpenStand’ Principles Support Voluntary Technical Standards

August 29, 2012

Washington–Today, five leading global Internet organizations announced the “OpenStand” principles, an initiative that underscores the invaluable role of open, voluntary technical standards to the development of the Internet.

Also today, CDT released a paper detailing how technical Internet standards work and why proposals for the mandatory use of “ITU-T Recommendations”–telecom standards developed in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)–are cause for grave concern.

The following can be attributed to CDT Chief Computer Scientist Alissa Cooper:

“The OpenStand principles demonstrate a landmark commitment from leading Internet organizations to voluntary, open technical standards, which form the foundation of the Internet’s innovation, openness, and freedom. These principles draw a sharp contrast to the dangerous, misguided proposals that would make ITU-T technical standards mandatory.”